Help with controlling my plane smoothly

[martinlb]

I think I need some help.  I've been practicing, trying to start with something simple.  I've done quite a few single player "missions" with just me against one enemy plane.  I just cannot seem to smoothly control my plane.  I've tried multiple kinds of planes and I'm equally bad with anything.  I'll be in position (which only happens rarely) to bring my sights on my opponent with a little horizontal or vertical or angular motion.  I bounce around rather than smoothly bring my sight on target and because of that my shots go to one side or another and miss.  HELP!!!

Edited July 26, 2020 by martinlb
Clarity

[NO.20_W_M_Thomson]

Are you using a joy stick and have head tracking at all?

[unlikely_spider]

Yes, hopefully you are using a joystick, and if so, go into the axis for pitch/roll in the Key Mapping section and adjust the sensitivity until you are comfortable. I have a CH Products stick and have sensitivity at 20% and a 4% center dead zone.

Also make sure that you are gently squeezing the trigger and not moving the joystick when you're doing so. It's the same thing taught in photography, as to not move the camera as you press the shutter.

[Thad]

Oh, and lay off the Vodka before flying. ?

[NO.20_W_M_Thomson]

First thing you need to do is like Thad said, lay off the vodka, couple of shots of whiskey will do, then if you have head tracking turn it off, if not then just used your delete, end ,page up and page down to center your head to the iron cross, shoot a few rounds so you see your tracers, make sure they are in line with the center of your iron cross. move the keys around to line them up. once all lined up hit f10, turn on your head tracking if used. You'll need to do this to each plane I believe, been so long I don't remember. 

 

Start with a newbie plane. Any German plane will do. Alb for sure. 

[Dutch2]

Try this and additionally use also the joystick center deadzone. 

 

[mroshaw]

I feel your pain! As a new FC pilot, I am having a hell of a time trying to fly the Camel! I know it's not the best "starter plane", but I just love the idea of it! I fly with an Odyssey+ VR (which is amazing, by the way, and works so well with the reduced speed of the WWI planes) and an x52 Pro HOTAS and Thrustmaster T.Flight pedals. The HOTAS is desk mounted, stick center mounted, dropped to a "realistic", comfy position.

 

I started with all the flight aids turned on, and I think that has been a massive mistake. I've now "learned" so many bad habits, it's actually really difficult to fly properly. By failing to learn the limitations of the plane, and proper engine management, I'm making a dogs dinner of flight. By biggest issue is stalling and flat spins: I've spent hours on missions, only to yank the stick too hard or drop the throttle too low, or drop too low for a strafing run, and it's game over - down I go like a sack of spuds!

 

I'm going to start again, learning with all flight aids off in a more user friendly German plane, and I'm going to find a noob friendly squadron to join and earn my flying wings the hard way, with some proper guidance. I'd love to hear how you get on!

[Zooropa_Fly]

Practice, simple as that.

As mentioned above I'd stick to the Alby for a while - very smooth to fly and shouldn't bounce about much at all. (stay away from the Pfalz and DVII for now).

I don't think a deadzone in your stick is necessary. If you use head tracking - that's where to utilise a small dead zone. Keeps the view stable when shooting and greatly helps you re-center the view quickly without disabling tracking etc.

 

When I started my nose was up and down like a (answers on a postcard), I expect this phenomena afflicts most noobs for a while.

It's getting the feel for it as much as anything.

 

Good luck, S!

[No.23_Gaylion]

You can add a default curve on the pich in control setting. Go to plane controls and then "pitch". On the far right is a box thingy. Click that and add a 50% S curve to start out. Then go practice attacks and apply more or less curve from there.

 

Drink more. Those who say not to are fools.

Edited July 26, 2020 by US93_Talbot

[martinlb]

Hey, thanks so much for your help everyone!  Yes, I'm using a Microsoft Force Feedback 2 joystick.  I'll try making some adjustment settings, watching the video posted by Dutch (thanks for that), and doing a spreadsheet to track alcohol/performance curves.  Once I've had a go I'll get back to report my progress (I HOPE progress!!!).

[US103_Baer]

What plane are you flying?

As mentioned some of them are real bouncy buggers, incl all the Fokkers, Pfalz and Camel. Probably the most stable is the Spad. The Albatros isn't too bad if you have to fly Central.

Having a gunsight view mapped to a handy button on the stick helps too

[JGr2/J5_Klugermann]

12 hours ago, US103_Baer said:

The Albatros isn't too bad if you have to fly Central.

 

 

....and want to be shot down repeatedly as it is by far the weakest machine in the plane set.

[Zooropa_Fly]

40 minutes ago, J5_Klugermann said:

as it is by far the weakest machine in the plane set.

 

Unless Thomson's in a Bristol.

 

[NO.20_W_M_Thomson]

43 minutes ago, Zooropa_Fly said:

 

Unless Thomson's in a Bristol.

 

Any time Bud. ?

[US103_Baer]

7 hours ago, J5_Klugermann said:

 

....and want to be shot down repeatedly as it is by far the weakest machine in the plane set.

 

Hence the recommendation ?

 

Nah, I meant in terms of stability. In SP is probably fine.